Press Release - the 2015 Toronto Fringe Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MAY 25 2015:! ! Fringe sensations JEFF LEARD and RON FROMSTEIN team up to bring ! ZACH ZULTANA: SPACE GIGOLO ! to the Toronto Fringe Festival! ! “***** ! ! ! ! ! Leard is magnificent, a master of mime and tension.”! ! -Edmonton Journal! “****1/2 Fromstein’s script is funny, vulnerable, and spot on.”! ! -Winnipeg Free Press Fringe favourite Jeff Leard is returning to the Toronto Fringe Festival with a brand new solo-adventure-comedy about life and love beyond the asteroid belt, written by award winning playwright Ron Fromstein. ! ! Zach Zultana: Space Gigolo tells the story of a man living in a mining colony on one of Jupiter’s moons who, after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman, becomes the unlikely poster boy for a revolution. Set in a remote corner of the solar system settled by 22nd century humans this show draws from science fiction, testimonials from astronauts about life in space, and current life for miners in the remote parts of Canada. Fromstein has done his best to create a realistic picture of what life would be like if we managed to colonize the solar system. It’s one part space travel, and one part old west adventure.! ! Leard is best known to Fringe goers for his self written, self produced solo hits, Sperm Wars and The Show Must Go On, which have garnered rave reviews, numerous awards, and played to sold out houses across Canada. Zach Zultana: Space Gigolo is Leard’s first time collaborating with another writer on a solo project and he his very excited to bring the characters in Fromstein’s script to life.! ! Fringers would be most familiar with Fromstein’s plays Dianne and Me and The Big Smoke, which were breakaway hits in 2009 and 2011. He has also won numerous 24hr playwriting competitions, and new play competitions across Canada as well as the Canadian National Playwriting Competition.! ! Toronto Fringe is the third stop for Zach Zultana: Space Gigolo on its maiden voyage across Canada, it will also be playing in London, Ottawa, and Edmonton Fringes this summer.! ! WHO:! ! Produced by Adventureland! ! —Performed by Jeff Leard! ! ! —Written by Ron Fromstein! ! — Directed by James Leard! WHEN:!! Toronto Fringe Festival: July 1 -12 2015! ! ! Showtimes: Thu July 2 @ 6:30pm Sat July 4 @ 4:00pm! Mon July 6 @ 4:30pm! Wed July 8 @ 9:15pm Thu July 9 @ 4:00pm Fri July 10 @ 11:00pm Sat July 11 @ 12:30pm! WHERE:! Tarragon Theatre Mainspace — 30 Bridgman Ave. Toronto, ON! PHOTOS:! High-res photos available upon request. All photos by Kris Gower, featuring Jeff Leard.! MEDIA CONTACT! Jeff Leard, Producer — [email protected]! MORE INFORMATION:! ! www.fringetoronto.com! PHOTO CONTACT SHEET! ! Photos by Kristopher Gower. Photos show Jeff Leard as Zach Zultana in ZACH ZULTANA: SPACE GIGOLO.! For high-res copies email Jeff at [email protected]. COMPANY BIOS! ! Jeff Leard — Performer! ! Jeff was born and raised in Victoria, BC where he studied theatre at the University of Victoria and received his BFA in Acting in 2010. Since then Jeff has been earning a living in theatre as an actor and writer on the Fringe circuit and a freelance scenic carpenter when he doesn’t have shows. Jeff has been based in Toronto since 2012 but has recently closed up shop in the big city to embrace the homeless life of a travelling performer. Recently Jeff performed his signature show THE SHOW MUST GO ON at booking conferences in BC and Ontario in order to keep touring throughout the winter and never have to settle down. This year marks Jeff’s fifth year in a row performing in multi-city Fringe tours, which must mean he loves the Fringe enough to stick with it… or has no other marketable skills.! ! ! James Leard — Director! ! In 1981 James Leard returned to full time work at the University of Victoria's Phoenix Theatre and also founded The Story Theatre Company. This company became his prime focus as he created productions which were invited to tour across Canada and into the United States. His work for young audiences has been featured at The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Smithsonian Institute, Wolftrap, The National Arts Centre, as well as International Children's Festivals in Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Ottawa. The Company is always invited to return and is well known for its work throughout British Columbia and has developed a touring market along the Eastern Seaboard from Florida to Newfoundland. He continues this live theatre work while working as a freelance film and television actor.! ! Ron Fromstein — Writer! Ron is a largely self-taught playwright from Toronto. Fringe credits include The Big Smoke (**** CBC, ***** Winnipeg Onstage), Dianne & Me (Best of Fringe, Hamilton), Ben & Jess of the Apocalypse (Sold out run at Saskatchewan Fringe, and One in a Million (Patrons Pick, Toronto Fringe). He dramaturged the sold-out run of Confessions of a Red-headed coffee Shop girl and is also a three time winner of the Canadian National Playwriting competition and six time winnerfinalist of the Toronto Fringe 24 hour playwriting competition.!
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